Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“We cannot remain silent while funds meant for the poor are being stolen,” Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan said on June 28. “We cannot remain silent while the people’s treasury is being turned into the personal wealth of a few. We cannot remain silent while corruption continues to destroy the future of our children.”

“It is not enough to pray for change,” Bishop Bagaforo added. “We must also stand up for change. It is not enough to ask for good governance. We must also demand accountability.”

Pope Leo XIV received President Gustavo Petro of Colombia on July 2, a month before a new Colombian president is scheduled to take office.

Police detained Bishop Abelardo Mata, 80, on June 29, released him, and detained him again the following day. The prelate is the retired bishop of Estelí.

“Lithuania and the Holy See enjoy a long-standing warm relationship built on mutual respect,” said Kęstutis Budrys. “Lithuania highly appreciates the role of the Holy See in our country’s resistance against the Soviet occupation and in the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania, and, in the context of today’s realities, its support for Ukraine.”

“We stand ready to work together to increase pressure on Russia and achieve a sustainable, just peace in Ukraine,” Budrys added.

“Catechist Victor Paul succumbed to severe torture, preventable illness, and starvation, while the others were brutally murdered by their captors,” according to the archdiocesan announcement. Two dozen other captives, including Paul’s son and pregnant wife, regained their freedom in a series of releases.

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network released the video associated with Pope Leo’s prayer intention for July.

“In its words and formal statements, the Fraternity says it recognizes the legitimacy and authority of the Successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV; that it loves him and prays for him,” said Tornielli. In its deeds, however—and deeds always count more than words—it completely disregarded his clearly expressed will, his repeated appeals, and his request not to proceed with schismatic consecrations without pontifical mandate; or rather, with schismatic consecrations explicitly forbidden by the Pope.”

Tornielli added:

There is room in the Church for the faithful attached to the ancient liturgy; there is room in the Church for discussion, for reading and rereading documents and interpreting them.

However, there is no room for judging the Pope and disobeying him by carrying out acts that tear the unity of the “Mystical Body” of Christ, which is the Church. Nor is there room for creating a parallel hierarchy against the explicit prohibition of the one to whom Jesus said: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”